This Day In Sox History...October 1

[Lip Man 1]

October 1, 1950 - Luke Appling got his final hit with the White Sox in 4-3 win over St. Louis. The future Hall of Famer spent 20 years and 2,422 games in a Sox uniform. He’d later come back as a coach for the club in 1970 and 1971. Appling had 2,749 hits, all with the Sox in his career and won two batting titles.

 

October 1, 1959 - After 40 years, the wait was over and the Sox were back in the World Series facing the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Sox reacted in game #1 like they were trying to win the title in a single afternoon, burying L.A. 11-0. Ted Kluszewski slammed a pair of home runs and tied a series record with five RBI’s. The Sox assaulted Dodger starter Roger Craig early and often to give Cy Young award winner Early Wynn a lot of breathing room.

                

October 1, 1970 - It was the end of the worst season in Sox history and as it turned out the final game ever called by longtime Sox announcer Bob Elson. “The Commander” began his White Sox career in 1930 and for the next 40 years called games in good times and bad. His style simply no longer fit the environment and with the Sox needing to make drastic changes everywhere, he was let go.

The Sox closed out a 106-loss season in Anaheim losing to the Angels 5-4 in 15 innings. They lost their last seven straight to end the year.

Elson found work for 1971 calling the Oakland Athletics while the A’s announcer, Harry Caray took over for Elson with the Sox! 

 

October 1, 1975 – Sox owner John Allyn appeared on Johnny Morris’ sports show on WBBM-TV.

While talking about the pending sale of the club he said if he did own the team in 1976, Harry Caray wouldn’t be back as lead announcer. Allyn was tired of Caray and wanted to fire him which he actually did later on.

The next day Caray had this retort, "I can’t believe any man can own a ball club and be as dumb as John Allyn. Did he make enough to own it or did he inherit it?"

As it turned out neither man had to worry, Allyn sold to Bill Veeck and Veeck immediately rehired Caray who continued in his broadcasting role for the rest of Veeck’s ownership.

 

October 1, 2015 – In the seventh inning of a game at U.S. Cellular Field, Jose Abreu’s two run single gave him 100 RBI’s for the season, the night before he collected his 30^th home run of the year. Both milestones came off Kansas City’s Luke Hochevar. Abreu thus became only the second player in Major League history with at least 30 home runs and at least 100 RBI’s in their first two seasons. He joined Albert Pujois in that exclusive club.